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-Nailing Machine. No. 242,061. Patented May 24,1881.

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AlllNrrEio STATES PATENT" OFFICE.

' SAMUEL SHEPHERD, OENASHUA, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

NAILING-MACH'INE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 242,061, dated May 24, 1881.

' A Application tiled January 15, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL SHEPHERD, of Nashua, in the county of Hillsborough and State of New, Hampshire, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Driving Headlcss Nails, of which the lowing is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide automatic mechanism for forming or setting up a string of the headless nails used in nailing boots and shoes, for feeding said string toward the driving mechanism, and for separatin g the individual nails and driving them successively.

Referring to the drawings which form part ot' this application, Figure 1 is a side elevation ot' the complete machine, with the exception ot' the upper portion of theease containing the spring which actuates the driver. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section taken in a plane about the center ot' the machine. Fig. 3 is a view, partly in sect-ion and partly in plan, showtbling part of the mechanism illustrated in Figs. 1 V Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken in and 2. the plane x fr, Fig. 1, parts of the machine be, ing removed. Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section taken in the plane y y, Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is an end elevation taken from theforward end of the machine, the end inclosing plate being removed. Fig. 7 is an elevation of the entire machine, taken from the forward end. Fig. S is an elevation ot' the entire machine, taken from the rear end. Fig. 9 is a horizontal section taken iu the plane z, Fig. 1. Fig. 10 is a horizontal section taken in the planc x y, Fig. l. Fig. 11 is a view in detail ot' the mechanism illustrated in the lower portion ot Fig. 6. Fig. l2 is a second view ofthe n1ech` anism shown in Fig. 11, with the parts in a Fig. 13 is a view of a detached part. Fig. 14 is a central vertical section of the nail-hopper, taken in the plane wz, Fig. 1. Fig. 15is a central transverse section of Fig. 14, taken in the plane x4. Fig. 16 is a transverse section of the nail-setting cylinder, taken in the plane x', Fig. 2. Fig. 17 is a vertical section taken in about the plane ac3, Fig. 3. Fig. 18 is a plan view ot' a detached part. Fia.

19 is a'view,in two positions, oi' thenails used in my machine. Y

rIhe sainedetter's oi" reference indicate like parts in all the igures.- v

In order to fully understand the nature lof this invention, I must call attention to the peculiarconstruction or form of the metal nails used in my'machine. These nails are cut perfectly headless, and the cut edges taper sligh tly, so as to give the nail a slight Wedge shape upon those edges, while the two remaining sides are perfectly parallel to each other. The shape of the nail may be seen illustrated in Fig. 19, Where I have shown it in two positions, t be ing the nail with the dat surface turned toward the eye, showing the convergence ot' the cut edges, and b showing the nail turned partly around to exhibit the. parallel faces. These nails being absolutely without a head, or anything that answers the purpose ot a head, the diiliculty ot' handling them with certainty and precision by means ot' automatic mechanism is very greatly increased. In feeding and driving headed nails there is always something to support the head by, and all danger of its wedging or dropping out ot' its support is avoided. In the, case of a headless nail, however, there is but one way in which the nail can be seized and so held as to be t'ed, and that is to support it by its wedging edges. The organization of mechanism for settin g up a string ot' nails in this manner, for feeding, separating, and driving them, is a matter involving the gravest difficulties, and I am not aware of any instance in which these sevcralresults have been accomplished with practical success. In fact, the formation of a string or series of these nails; which is the ver T iirst step to be accomplished, has hitherto been regarded as a mechanical impossibility.

My invention consists in a certain novel construction and combination ot' parts for automatically handling and driving headless nails,

which will rst be clearly described, and then more specifically pointed out and detned in the claims.

The nailsare placed in any suitable quantity in a cylindrical hopper, A, having rotary motion upon a shaft, et, mounted in bearings a', which are bolted to the frame of the machine. The interior constructiony of this hopper is shown clearly in Figs. 14 and 15, and as it has an important bearing .upon the manner of delivering the nails, Iwill describe it at this point.

The cylindrical case A is closed at each end by IOO other.

a disk, B. A series of channels or grooves, 1 1 1 1, &c. are cut in the iliner surface of the case A, said channels beilig parallel to the plane ot' rotatioll of the hopper alid to each They occupy but little more than one third oi" the innersurt'ace of said case, and are arranged in the central portion thereof'. Each channel is semi-elliptical ill cross-section, so that a headless nail falling ilito it and sliding therein will be very apt to lie upon one oi' its eut edges.

Narrow slots 2 are eut in the case A, rillining transversely to the channels 1, said slots beiiig a length equal to the space occupied by the channels. l have sliowli three ci' these slots or openings situated at equal distances apart; but this number lnuy he increased or decreased according to the requirements ofthe work to be done by the machine. The channels 1 are gradually deepened on one side ot' the 'slots 2--viz., on the side on whicll the nail escapes-as shown at 3, Fig. 14. In the saine figure, 4 is a check or stop bar (also shown in elevation in Fig. 15) having its eild stepped,

5 in order that it may be screwed to the case A by the ends 5 5, while the body of the bar lies in slot or opening 2 tiush with the case, and having its rear edge lying against the side of the slot. rl`he bar is knife-edged, and ci such width that the sharp side lies opposite the deepened ends of' the channels 1, a space heilig left between, as shown in Fig. 14. The deepeliilig ofthese channels brings their opeil ends partly below and partly above the edge 6 ot' the bar 4. The purpose oi' this construction will be shown presently.

C are liail-distributiiig buckets attached to the shaft of the hopper, and having their concavefaces toward the direction in which the hopper rotates. (1" are siinilarly-shaped blickets attached to the liopperalid alternating with the buckets C. The buckets C are set in slots in the case A, a short distance behind each slot 2, aiid extend from one side ofthe case to the other.

D is a chute or tlough leading to an opeliilig, b, in one of the disks or heads B. r1`he central part of the disk, to which this trough is attached, consists oi' a separate plate, B', united t0 the head ot' the hopper by a scarf-joint, d, and keyed at c, Fig. 15, to the journal-bearing a', so that it will reliiaiii stationary, the hopper turning upon said plate.

E indicates thin curved plates lying upon the outer surface of the case A, to which they are attached by set-screws c', passing through slots in the plate and into the case A. These plates are so placed that one edge iinpiiiges upon the opening 2 aiid upon the side opposite to the check-bar 4. By loosening the setscrews c the plates E may be set up so as to partly close the slot 2, and thereby regulate the quantity of nails discharged therefrom.

The operation of this portion of my ilivention is as follows: A quantity of nails having been introduced through the opening b by pineans of the feeding-trough D, a slow rotary niotion is given the hopper ill the direction of the arrows in Fig. 14. The nails are thereby kept in colistalit agitation, being carried up by the buckets C on the case A, whence they fall upon the buckets() on the shaft and slide therefrom to the lower portion of the cylindrical case, beiilg prevelited frolnv falling into the opeliilig 2 by the bucket C, which is placed just behind said opening. As the hopper turns farther the nails begili to slide in the grooves or channels l toward the next opening. Owing to the peculiar forni of these grooves, the nails, as soon as they begin sliding therein, tend to turn upon theirelit or narrow edges. As they approach the discliarge-opeiiilig 2 the nails which slide point forelnost will pass uilder the check-bar 4 and be discharged, there being aniple space between the edge ot' said bar and the decpelied ends 3 of. the channels 1 to allow their passage. Those nails, however, which reach the opening 2 with the heads t'orclnost aiid sliding upon their edges will, t'or the most part, strike against the edge 6 of' the nail-check 4, alid not only be prevented t'roni escaping, bllt will be thrown over, as the hopper turns, ilito the channels 1 upon the other side ot the discharge-opening 2, and will lle in those channels with their points toward the next succeedilig opening', through which they will be discharged. The buckets G are cutaway directly over the channels, as seen in Fig. 15, so that nails which lie in said channels may slide beneath the edge ot' the bucket, while those lyilig outside or standing on end or piled across the channels will be carried up by the bucketand redistributed. The hopper A derives its iliotion from a gear, 7, Figs. 1 and S, keyed to its shaft a, alld driven by a pinion, S, through a train of gearing from the lnain shalt.

F is a chute bolted to a projecting portioli of the franie ofthe inachine, alid airailged directly uliderneatll the central portion ol the hopper A, as seen in elevatioil in Fig. 1. The forni of this cliute is shown in Figs. 7 alld 8, where it is seen curved beneath aiid lying close to the hopper A, t'roln the lowest poillt ot' which it descends by a gentle inclination toward the setting-cylinder G, the lower end ot' said chute beiiigsliglltly curved downward, for a purpose to be described. Guard-tlangesj' are screwed to the sides ot the chute, and its surface is grooved or channeled in precisely the saine lnaiilier as the inner face ot the hopper A. These clialinels in the cllute lnay be seen at l0, Fig. l. They correspond iii forni with those already described in connection with the hopper, and are so located by the position of the chute beneath the hopper that a nail sliding from one of the grooves 1 in the hopper A liiay pass directly into a correspond' ing channel iii the chute, in which it inay still ,slide on its cut edge to the lower end ot' the chute.

I will ilow turn to Figs. 2, 3, alid 16 of the drawings, Fig. 2 being a vertical longitudinal section, Fig. 3 a plan view of the raceway with certain parts (hereinai'tcrdescribcd) in sectirn,

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and Fig. 16 a transverse section of the nailsetting cylinder G, the construction and operation of which I am about to describe, as in the operation of this machine thiselement is the next in order. This nail-setting cylinder G is placed at the rear end of the machine, and, as shown in Figs. l and 7, it is directly under the lower end of the chute F, which meets the cylinder a little to the right of a line ent instance being fourteen, as shown in Fig.

2. These slots are cut well into the barrelhead, to admit a thin slide-plate or follower, 14, in cach slot. The cylinder G, with its attachments, is mounted in a collar, H, which is rigidly bolted to an gle-blocks- 15, which are secured to the frame of the machine.

I is a ratchet slipped on said cylinder G in front ot' the collar I-I, and secured by being bolted or keyed tothe cylinder, or even shrunk thereon. The cylinderreceives intermittentor Astep-by-step motion from a th ree-armed dog, K,

mounted on a shaft, 16, which is turned by a gear, 17, the latter receiving motion froma small pinion,18,in the direction shown bythe arrows in Figs. 7 and 8. f

In each of the slots 12 in the cylinder G is placed a thin slide-plate or follower, 14. That portion of the plate which lies-directly between the walls of the slot is thinner than the remaining portion, as shown in Fig. 16. That portion of said plate which lies above the slot 12 and outside the cylinder is in the form of a round solid bar or rod, 19. As shown in Fig. 16 and partly in Fig. 2the slots 12 in the cylinder G have their upper edges beveled 0E slightly, and the lower part of the bar 19 on the slide-plate 14 rests in the beveled top of the slot.A Beneath the ratchet I and in the inner surface of the cylinder are formed vdepressions 20, as shown in Fig. 2, to permit the slideplate 14 to move, and also to provide space for a spiral spring, 21, which coils around the bar 19 and holds the slide-plate14, when not acted upoi by other mechanism, in the position shown in Fig. 2, (at the lower side of the cylinder G.) A metal ring,22,surrounds the cylinder just in front of the ratchet I, apertures being formed in said ring to permit the passage ot the cylindrical bar 19, whereby the Vslide 14 is steadied and guided. The ring 22 mounted upon a mitcr-gear, L, havingits axis at right angles to the axis ot' the cylinder G, the shaft of said miter-gearbeing setin a halfbearing, 25, which is bolted to the rear end ot' the frame of the machine, as seen in Fig. 16. The miter-gcar L is driven by a pinion, M, on a shaft, 26, said shat't being driven by a gear, 27, Fig. S. meshing with a gear, 2S, on the maiushat't. As the latter rotates motion is given to the shaft 26 in the direction shown by the arrows in Fig. 8. Motion being thereby given to the miter-gear. L, the dog 24 is slowly swept around in a circle, and asitrises the end ot' the dog 24 strikes a pin, 29, on the slide-plate 14 and .moves said slide-plate from the rear end to the open end ofthe slots 12in the cylinder. By this movement the spiral spring 2l is compressed, and as soon as the dog has moved far enough to pass below and out of engagement Awith the pin 29 the spring throws the plate back into the first position.

I have already mentioned that the nail-setting cylinder is driven by a three-armed dog, K. (Shown in Figs. 7 and S.) The rotation of its shaft is so timed that the dog Kengages with the ratchet I soon after the dog 24 has released the slide plate '14. Ihe distance through which the dog K moves 4the cylinder is just equal to the space between the slots 12 in said cylinder, so that when the dog24 again rises it engages with the slide-plate next succeedi ng the one previously acted upon, the nailsettingcylinder remaining stationary while the slide-plate is thrown forward and until the next succeeding arm on dog K comes into engagement with the ratchet I on the cylinder. lmmediately in front of the cylinder G are placed tno tlat plates, N and O, having their ends abutting closely upon the edge of the nail-setting cylinder. (See Figs.1,2,3.) These plates are separated by a space exactly equal to the width of the slots 12 formed in the cylinder G, as already described. When the cylinder is rotated by the dog K one of said slots 12 is brought into position shown in Fig. 3, where it exactly registers with the space or opening 30 between the plates N O, said space forming a raceway, which is virtually a continuation ot' the slot 12 in the cylinder. At the instant the cylinder is brought into this position the dog K leaves its ratchet., and itv remains stationary until the dog 24 on the mikter-gear L has shot the follower-plate 14 forward and released it. When the parts are in the position shown in said Fig. the lower end of the chute F will be over the second slot to the right in said cylinder.

My invention will be more easily understood f it'the description of its parts be made to follow the order ofthe operation, and especially' if said description be accompanied by a statement of the function of' each element in its natural order of succession. I have already described the hopper A and shown how the nails are delivered from it, beingcaused to slide end foremost in the channels 1. I have also shown that as a rule only those nails will es- IOO LIO

capefroni the disehargeopenings J which slide toward the opening with their points foremost. I will now describe in this connection the manner in which I set up a continuous string of nails, this being the tirst and one ot' the most important stepsaccomplished b v my machine.

As the nails escape from the openings 2 in the hopper A they fall into the chute F, which has channels 10, already described as similar in form to those in the hopper. Iy this construction ot' the channels the nails are, t'or the most part, caused to turn upon their edges as they slide in said channels, and as they move toward the lower end ofthe chute F by far the greater number will present their wedging sides toward the walls of the slot 12 in cylinder G, which lies just beneath the lower end of the said chute. The slots in the nail-setting cylinder are all of such width that nails enteringthem wedging will be held therein with a little less than the upper half ot' the nail projecting above, while nails which enter with their parallel sides against the walls'otl the slot will fall through. On an average, from three to tive nails will be caught by each slot. As the cylinder (i rotates each slot 12 is brought in succession to register with the raccway 30 in the lnanner shown in Fig. Ii. eing left in this position fora moment, the slideplate 14 is driven forward, (shown in Figs. 2 and 3 as partly advanced,) and all the nails caught by said slot are forced into the raceway 3() hetween the plates N Asthe several slots in the rotating cylinder G arrive in line with the raccway() and discharge their nails a continuous string or form ot' nails is set up in the said raceway, those in t'ront being pushed forward by those behind, until the raecway() is tilled with nails trom end to end. Those nails which are not caught by the slots either pass through them or t'all into openings 31 in the cylinderwalls, and are caught by a box placed beneath the machine. ln order to prevent the waste nails from falling into the gearing, a shield, l, is inserted within the end ot' the cylinder (l, and as this shield necessarily has a slot, 252, to permit the movement of the dog Z-l, a second curved shield, 33, lies directly above the gear m, and is inclined sufficiently to throw any nails that drop through out of all contact with the gears. ln order to prevent an accumulation ot' nails within theeylindrical shield l), an opening, 34, is formed at the lower part, through which thc nails will drop. Just below this opening` is an inclined trough, 35, attached toa tlange, 3U, on the, inner end ot' the shield l. The trough 35 inclines downward and projects a little beyond the edge of cylinder G, so that the nails falling within the cylindrical shield will be caught by said trough and carried out ot' the cylinder.

As the nails pass into the raceway 30, and as the lollower-plates 14 are successively thrown forward, pushing additional nails into the raceway, there is some dangerot their wcdging in the opening between the plates N O, owing to their peculiar wcdgiug shape. In order to obviate this,I arrange between the platcs,and in thc same vertical plane with the raccway 30, an agitator or lifter, R. (See Figs. 1 and 2.) This consists ot' a long` thick metalplate eX- tending from the nailsctting cylinder Gto the forward end of the plates N O, the upper edge being sloped throughouta portion ot'its length to correspond with the inclined portion of the raccway Jil), as shown in Figs. l and 2. Iwill remark here that this inclination of the plates N and O is a matter of convenience and not ot' necessity, and is adopted n1erely to provide space in front ot' the incline for the gearing, and to enable the latter to be operated from a single main shaft.

'lhe lifter It is mounted upon an angle-bar, 37,which is bolted to the tloor of the machine, said angie-bar also furnishing a suppoit for the ends ot' the plates N O, as seen in Fig. 1. A vertical slot` is formed in said angle-bar,and the opposite wall ot' said slot is channeled, as shown at 25S in Fig. 2, and still better in Fig. 18. A tiange or pin, 59, on the, lifterI-t runs in each ot' these channels and supports and guides the lifter. lt is operated by a shaft, 4l), which isa continuation ofthe shaft 2li, carrying the pinion in. (See Figs. 2 and 16.) The shaft 4() has a forward bearing,f11,in the angle-bar 37, and upon the end projecting is mounted a cam, S, which rests against a bearing-block, 4-2, attached to and projecting laterally from the lifter It. The latter is wholly supported by the shaft 10, and as the shaft rotates thc throw olthe cam S raises the lifter vertically about from three-sixteenths to one-fourth ot' an inch at each revolution. This movement brings the serrated upper edge of the lifter into contact with the points ot' the nails as they hangin the raceway aml lifts the Whole string of nails slightly', thereby relieving the nails, or any one of them,fron. any tendency to bind in the raceway as they pass forward. It desired, a piolongation, 125, (see Fig. 2,) may bc formed to extend as far as into the open end of the slot 1*. in the nail-setting cylinder. rlheI bearing block 42 is attached to the lifter by a llat yoke, 44, which is bolted to the opposite side ot' the lit'ter from the cam. The attaching-bolts pass through slots in the ends ot' theyoke,whereby the latter may be vertically adjusted and the lifter be set nearer to or farther t'rom the plates N O. 1`he angle-bar 37 also furnishes a support for the cylindrical shield P.

Having now formed a continuous string ot' nails in the raceway 30, it becomes necessary to provide some, means ot' feeding them toward the forward end ot' the machine. The action of the tollower-plates 11 cannot be depended upon to accomplish this purpose, their operation being` intermittent, and the throw ot' the plates being too great for at'eed,\vl1ich should be more constant and ot' less action. Morcover, it' the follower-plates were to be used exclusively, there would be danger, in case oi" any resistance being met, ot' the string bursting and iyin g upward out ofthe raceway. To give IOC] IOS

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v the required feed, therefore, use tjwo'separate neath theplates N70. They extend from .the

forwardend of said platesfto about the middle point thereof, andare mounted upon carriers T', to whichthey are connected by stud-pins 45, screwed into the carrier plates '.T, the griper-barsTbeing so mounted ,uponsaidstuds that they may have a slight motion toward and fromthe carriers. Between the two-fviz., between the gripers and the cnrriers-arefpaced strong springs l46,' by which the griperL-barsT are,when not? otherwise actuatedpheld against the headsof the si ud-pins45 and at theirfarthest limitof, motion from the carriers T.

Eachcarrieraplate 'l" is ,provided with -two cams, 47,.placed not far from the endsotthep1ate,as seen best in Fig. 4, whereonetot' the raceway-plates N is removed to show the mechanismbeneath, the same arrangemen tbeing alsoindieited in Fig. 3 by brokenlines. The cams on one carrier-plate both rotate in one direction, while those on thc oppositeplate rotate in the opposite direction, the resultbeing to throw the griper-bnrs T towardrach other, then move them a short distance forward, then separate them, and inallyretract them to repeat the operation, thereby producing a t'orward movement tofeed thenails and a receding or backwardlnovement in a curved path away from the nails. As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, these gripers lie justbeneath theplates N and() and above thelilter B.. Theiraction upon the nails is obvious.V Being timed to operate between the Vactions of the liftcr,'they seize'the wholeseries ot' nails which lies between them and carry them forward in the raceway as far as Jthe throw ot' the cam moves the lgripers while they aie holding -the nails.` Theyielding of `tllesprings 46 gives'them an elastic bearing throughout their entire length, and in'the event of any unusual resistance to their actio'n which might be caused by thefeed being too rapid for the consumptionofithe nails they will iinerely slide upon :the nails without carrying` them forward.

The cams 47 are actuated byshafts 48, set in pillar-bearings which Yextend between the plates N and O and the depending part A of the frame of the machine, in which the upper ends ot' the shafts 4S have al bearing. These shafts 4S are rotated by gears 49, Fig. 9.which are-driven from thc main shaft 5l by a mitergear, 52, which meshes with another ruiter-gear, 53, on the shal't 4S of one ofthe cams. Below this gear 53 is placed thepinion 49 belonging to that shaft which meshes with the pinion 49 upon the cam-shaft ot' the opposite griper, T. A large gear, 56, eonnnuncates the motion from the first cam-shaft to the second and forward pair of cams, as seen in Fig. `9. By

equal.

v against .the pressureof a spring.

' meshing the gears of theopposite cams together thesaid cam-sare caused to throw in opposite directions, iwhile .by the single intermediate gear, 50, :theca'ms on the same .griper-bar are -causedfto throwin .thesame direction, and the requiredinovements are obtained with theleast Im ech anisin possible.

The second feeding devicc'is placed above the plates N and 0, and resting upon them. It consists-ot'apair of disks having their edges corrugated orfmilled. These disks lie dat upon Athe snrfaceot' the pla-tesN O, with their edges projecting ,very slightlybeyond the sides of .the iraceway 30. One of said disks-viz., the

onc indicated by reference-number 55-is of' much greater diameter than the other disk, 56, (see Fig. 5,) this ,ditt'ereiice, however, being merelyforfconvenience in providing for the bearings ofthe shafts. The small disk 56 is on a shaft, 57, set in a drop-bearing, 58, at-

` tached to thcpart -Atof the frame of the machine. The larger vdisk 55 is`mounted on a short shaft,59, `set in a standing bearing, 60. .I repeatgthat `ithese disks might as well beot' `equal diameter` 5 but merely for convenience of .-arrangingithem-in suitable bearings and driv- @ing themwith the least possible gearing, I `have placed them as shown. Their difference in size or diameter is merely an incident of theirlocation. Each disk is rigidly mounted onits shaft, and motion is imparted to both in the manner following Onthe shaft ofthe large gear 50, Figs. l, 2, .5, 9, and 16,'isimounted a pinion, .61., placed just beneath'thelarge gear. Thispinion meshes ywith anintermediate gear, 62, Figs. 9and l0, which,in turnnmesheswith a pinion on the end ot' theshai't57, which carries the small disk 56. Motion is4 therebyggiven to said shaft and disk, and this-motion is imparted to the shaft 59 which carries thelarge disk by means of a pinion, 63, placed about the middle of the shaft 57, `and meshingwith a pinion, 64, on the shaft v59 which carries the large disk. As the disks are not of equal diameter, the two ,gears 63 and 64-are kalso unequal, the former bearing the same proportion to the latter that the smaller ydisk bears to the/larger. By this construction -the surface-spcedof the two disks is exactly Theratezof speed is so graduated that .it isiequal to the .feedmovement ot' the fingers orgripers T.

In order toiprevent the disks from crushing nails of unequal size, and to give them an elastic hold upon the'nails which pass between them, ythey are so constructed as to yield slightly The large `disk 55 has the lower bearing of its shaftin a bearing-block, 65, (see Fig. 4,) having one end pivoted tothe bolt 66 and the other end held bya stnd-pin, 67, having a powerful spring, .68, coiled round it and bearing against the end ofthe bearingfblock and against the xed abutment-block 69. This allows the disk to yield sufficiently to any given' pressure, and at the same time gives an elastic hold upon the nails. The small disk' also has a yielding bearing,

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against which a strong curved spring, 70, presses (sce Fig. 5) for a similar purpose.

In Fig. I3 I have shown a segmental cani, which I may, under certain circumstances, mount upon the plates which carry the fingerbars T. These segmental cams, however, are not essential, and as they form no part of the invention I now claim, no particular description is needed.

Having now followed the construction and operation of the machine through the several steps of setting up the nails, forming them into a continuous striug,and passing them through a raccway in which they are supported, I now come to a step in the operation of the machine of considerable importance.

ln order to drive the nails it is necessaryY to separate them, one at a time, from the string in which they stand and.carry the separated nails singly into the throat ofthe machine, where they may be subjected to the action of the driver. The separation of the nails is effected after they reach the extreme forward end of the raccway 30. I accomplislr it by taking the foremost nail in the string of nails standing in the raccway and carrying it a short distance to the left of the raccway, and there pushingitintothe throat of themachine, where it lies directly over the shoe and just beneath the driver, which immediately descends and forces the nail home. I accomplish this by the following mechanism:

Referring to Fig. 2 of the drawings, (said ligure being a vertical central section taken longitudinally ofthe machine,) V is a thin flat steel plate, arranged verticallyand extending across the front of the machine in relation to the raccway-plates NO and bearing against the forward ends ot' said plates, as seen in Fig. 4. A horizontal section of this plate, with other parts, is also shown in Figs. 3 and 4, while it is partly seen in end elevation in Fig. 6 and fully shown in Figs. 1l and l2. By means hereinafter described it receives horizontal reciprocation, sliding upon a base support, 72, on which the lower edge ofthe plate slides, as shown in Fig. 2. The arrangement of the reciprocating mechanism limits the movement of the plate to a distance of about fiveeighths (fg) of an inch. At about the central part of the plate I cut a slot, 73, passing completely through the plate, and of a size suiiicient to allow the nails to enter and pass through in the position they occupy in the raccway 30, and as shown in Fig. l1. The walls of this slot are at right angles with the surface of the plate, and at about the center ot' the opening I eut a short transverse opening, 74, directly across the slot 73. The vertical walls of this transverse cut flare open on thc side toward the raccway, as seen in Figs. 3 aml 4. Now, when this plate V is rcciprocated to the right of the machine, its limit of motion in thatdirection brings the slot or opening 73 exactly in line with the raccway 30, of which said slot may be said to form a continuation, it being' so situated that the nails maybe fed from the raccway directly into said slot in the plate, the nail, when it is placed therein, standing vertically' and being wholly within the sliding plate V. The nails are introduced singly into the slot 73 in the manner following:

The gripers or finger-bars T, which close upon the nails in the raccway and then move forward, carrying the whole string ot' nails with them, have their forward ends beveled, as shown at t, Fig. 4, (also in broken lilies in Fig. 3.) This bevel on the linger-bars corresponds with the tlare ofthe transverse eut 74, (shown in said Figs. 3 and 4,) and the forward movement ofthe said tingcr-lvars T is ot' suoli extent that their extremities, at cach stroke of their actuating-cams, enter the cross-slot 74 with the foremost nail in the continuous string of nails clasped between said extremities. The movementof thebars is so timed and arranged that the moment they have carried a nail fairly within the slot 73 they begin to separate, releasing thenail lying in the slot, as well as the whole string of nails behind the foremost nail. All these nails, however, excepting the one left in the slot 73, hang in the raccway while the linger-bars move back to take a fresh hold upon the string. The foremost nail having been carried beyond the forward end of the aceway and left in the plate V, the latter is free to move while the finger-bars T are being retracted for a new forward feed movement. Said plate accordingly slides toward the left of the machine, carrying the nail left in the slot with it.

In Fig. 11 the plat-e V is shown in the Iirst position, with the nail entering the slot from the racewayheld between the ends of the tingers T. In Fig. l2 the plate is shown iu the second position, having moved fiveeighths (Q) of an inch to the left. When in the latter position the slot 73, containing the nail, is directly over and in vertical line with thc throat ot' the machine, into which the nail is to be dis charged from the slot. This throat is secu at g, Figs. lland l2. It is a nearly cylindrical opening or passage formed in an end block, \V, bolted to the end ofthe frame. In order to discharge nail from the slot 73 in ntheplate V, I employ a device (shown in Figs. 3 and 4) constructed and operating as follows:

A thin plate,]", is mounted upon a carrierblock, g', which lies upon one ot' the raccwayplates, the parts being so arranged that when the slotted plate V, carrying the nail, is moved to the left, bringing the nail over the throatg, the vertical edge of the plate j" shall be exactly oppositeto the slot 73, in which thenail stands This position of the plate or punch f is shown in Figs. 4and 12, the vertical edge ofthe plate only being seen in the latter Iigure. Now, if thepuuch is thrown forward into the slot 73, the plate V being stationary meanwhile, it will push the nail out of the plate into the throat g, which lies in front of the slot 73, as shown iu Fig. 4, and extends down below the plate V, as showit in Figs. 11 and 12. l will remark here that in the two figures last IOO IIO

named one-halt' only of thethroat is shown, the' block or plate E', which contains the corresponding groove, being removed. rlhis plate is shown attached, however, in4 Figs. 3 and 4, and the upper portion of the throat lying in front of the slot 73 may be d istinctly seen. In Fig. 12 the vertical edge of the punch may be seen entering thc slot 73, from which it has pushed the nail, the latter being shown atthe bottom of the throat g, where its point rests on the shoe in position for the driver F' to descend and drive it home. In order to bring the edge of the punch f' in position to enter the slot 73, the plate is set in a slot, t', in the racewayplate N,whereby said plate is brought upon a level where it can enter the slot and dislodge the nail.

The said plate f' is operated in the following manner: The carrier-block g', on which said plate is mounted, has a springbox, lc', (see Fig. 3,) which slides in a casing, L', which isbolted by a flange, m', Vto the plate N. Within said boX 7c' lies a spiral spring, n', which bears at the rear end against the end of the casing l' and at the other end against the block y'. The

tendency of this spring is to throw the. plate j" forward into the slot 7 3. Upon the top of this casing Z' is placed a lever, F', pivoted atone end, o', and having between its extremities a. stud-bolt, t', passing down through a slot, 75, in the casing l', and connecting with the'springbox 7c'. The free end of the lever has'a lip, 76, which bears against a segment-cam, G', which is' mounted on the cam-shaft 49. This cam (see Fig. 4) is simply a disk with a segment cut off. It has rotation from right toward the left,

and as long as the lever restsagainst its periphery outside ot' the removed segment the plate f' will beheld back, compressing the spring 7c'. As the'shaft49 revolves vand the flat side 77 comes around the spiral spring throws the plate f' forward into the slot 73, dislodging the nail in the manner already del scribed.

I will now describe more fully the construction of th'ose parts connected with the slotted v, separating-plate V and its actuating mechanism. VThis plate, as already remarked, slides laterally against the forward ends of the raceway-plates N and O. Directlyin front of said plate V is placed a solid metal block, I', (see Figs. 3, 4, and 6,) the lower portion of which has a semi-cylindrical channel, forming half of the throat g. When this block is set in place against the plate V and the end block,W, (see Figs. 11 and 12,) the throat g will consist of a vertical cylindrical aperture, half being in one block and halt' in the other. Directly above the throat, and leading to ir, is a channel, 7S, (see Figs. 8, 4, and 6,) to receive the nail as it leaves the plate and carry it to the throat. The sliding plate V is moved toward the left by a lever-arm, H', (see Fig. 5,) pivoted toa bracket, K', at a point near the center of said leverarm. At its upper end it is connected by a forked joint to a horizontal bar, L', sliding in a socket in the frame of the machine. (See Fig. 2.)

This bar is thrown to the right of the machine at each revolution of the main shaft by a dog, 79, (see Fig. 2,) which strikes an offset on the bar (shown in broken lines in Fig. 5) and carries it to the right until the dog leaves the shoulder on the bar. Just as it reaches this point the slotted plate V, which is moved by the action of said dog, has reached the throat g and the ejector-plate j" has moved forward., pushing the nail out of thc slot. The pla-tef remains an instant in the slot while the dat face of the cam G' is passing the bearin g end of the lever F'. Meantime the dog 79 has left the bar L', and the plate is therefore held entirely by the punch. The instant the latter is withdrawn the plate 4is retracted by a strong spiral spring, M', (see Fig. 6,) arranged in a chamber in the end block, I', and surrounding a rod, N'. (See also Fig. 2.) This rod passes through a lug, O', to which it is firmly secured. rEhe spring M' abuts against said lug, and its force is sutiicient to throw the plate back into position. ,A comparison of the position of the parts as shown' in Figs. 6, 1l, and 12 will clearly illustrate these points. In Fig. 6 the dog 79` has .pushed the bar L to the right until the slot 7 3 registers with the throat g. At this instant the punch-plate f' enters the slot, as seen in Fig. l2, displacing the nail, and the dog 79 at the same moment leaves the shoulder on the bar L', and the whole .stress of the spring M' is sustained bythe end of the punch-plate. As soon as this is withdrawn the tension of said spring` restores the parts to the position shown in Fig. 11, bringing the slot 73 again in line with the raceway, ready to receive another nail and repeat the operation.

Between the plate V and the solid end block, I', I place a small plate, P', Fig. l7, which is set in a space cut out of the block l', so that the surface of the plate P' shall be flush with the surface of the block. The plate is slotted at p'p to allow it to have a certain sliding motion on the block 1', the said slots receiving short pins r' proiecting from the block. On the end oft-he plate is an offset, s', which limits the motionof the plate by striking against the end block, I'. Aleaf-sprin g, t', bears against the end of t he plate, the other end of the spring being mounted on a block, o'. (See Figs. 6 and 17.) The movement of the plate when acted upon by the spring is just sufficient to bring its end into line with one wall of the channel in the solid end block, l', which leads to the throat g, as seen in said Fig. 17. The function and operation of this part is as follows: When the lever-arm H' draws the slotted plate V toward the right of the machine in order to bring the slot 73 opposite the raceway, the pressure of the spring t' upon the plate l?l is relieved as soon as the plate V has moved a short distance, as the spring t' is carried by a block mounted on the plate V. As soon as this pressure is -taken off the plate P' it begins to slide with the plate V, and when the slot 73 has arrived in line with the raceway 30 the IOO IIO

solid face portion `550` lies directly behind (or, 

